ILOILO City – Fifty barangays in this city were inundated yesterday due to heavy rains brought by the southwest monsoon or “habagat” enhanced by Typhoon “Betty”.
Residents of Desamparados, Calubihan, Dungon B, Dungon A, and Sambag in Jaro district reported “waist-deep” floodwaters, according to the Iloilo City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC)-Emergency Operations Center.
Eleven other Jaro barangays reported flooding in their low-laying areas – Cuartero, San Isidro, MV Hechanova, Buhang, Balabago, Camalig, Montinola, San Vicente, Tagbak, Tabuc Suba, and Ungka.
In Mandurriao district, 10 barangays were inundated, six in the City Proper, La Paz and Lapuz (five each), and Molo and Arevalo (four each):
* Mandurriao – Dungon C, Navais, Oñate De Leon, Sta. Rosa, PHHC Block 22, PHHC Block 17, Pali Benedicto, Taft North, Bolilao, and Bakhaw
* City Proper – Esperanza Tanza, Tanza Timawa 2, Tanza Timawa 1, Inday, Gen. Luna, Malipayon, and Muelle Loney
* La Paz – San Isidro, Lopez Jaena Sur, Nabitasan, Burgos-Mabini, and Magsaysay
* Lapuz – Don Esteban, Sinikway, Bo. Obrero, Loboc, and Lapuz Norte
* Molo – East Timawa, Kasing-kasing, Katilingban, and San Pedro
* Arevalo – Sooc, Yulo Drive, Sto. Domingo, and Sta. Cruz
On the other hand, 477 families composed of 988 individuals from 11 barangays in the city evacuated to safer areas.
As of this writing, floodwaters have receded in some areas.
The City Social Welfare and Development Office distributed relief food packs to affected families.
“Betty”, which weakened into a severe tropical storm, left the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) yesterday afternoon and would continue to enhance the habagat, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
“Betty,” which entered PAR as a super typhoon, was last spotted 685 kilometers northeast of Itbayat, Batanes (outside PAR) at 4 p.m., packing maximum sustained winds of 95 kilometers per hour (kph) and 115 kph gusts, the state weather forecaster said.
In the next 24 hours, it is expected to enhance the habagat which will bring occasional to frequent wind gusts over Western Visayas, northern Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, Central Luzon, Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Bicol Region, MIMAROPA, and Northern Samar, according to PAGASA’s 5 p.m. advisory.
PAGASA added the habagat will dump 50 to 100 millimeters of heavy rains over La Union, Benguet, Occidental Mindoro, Romblon, Aklan, Antique, and northern Palawan until Friday morning.
Floods and landslides are possible, especially in areas which experienced in the past several days, the state weather bureau warned./PN
